Cricket Highlights, June 12: WC 2024 (Match 26) – West Indies vs New Zealand

West Indies vs New Zealand (Match 26) – Highlights

This article takes us deep into the heart-pounding clash of the T20 World Cup 2024 between West Indies and New Zealand at the iconic Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. This thrilling match saw Sherfane Rutherford’s heroic batting rescue West Indies from a precarious position, setting the stage for their third consecutive victory in the tournament.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s early dominance with the ball and Finn Allen’s spirited batting provided moments of intrigue, highlighting a clash filled with twists and turns that had significant implications for both teams’ standings in the competition.

In a thrilling T20 World Cup 2024 encounter at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Sherfane Rutherford’s heroics rescued West Indies, securing their third consecutive victory and a spot in the Super Eight while pushing New Zealand to the brink of elimination.

Despite a top-order collapse that left them reeling at 112 for 9 after 18 overs, Rutherford’s blistering assault in the final two overs propelled West Indies to a competitive total of 149. This late surge was crucial, setting the stage for their bowlers to dominate during the defense.

New Zealand’s strategy of using their frontline bowlers early paid dividends initially, reducing West Indies to four early wickets within the powerplay.

They struggled to contain Rutherford’s onslaught towards the end, ultimately conceding a daunting total. The likes of Mitchell Santner and James Neesham were tasked with containing the late assault, but Rutherford’s aggressive hitting turned the tide decisively in West Indies’ favor.

Rutherford, thrust into the spotlight amidst West Indies’ top-order collapse, showed resilience as he navigated partnerships with Akeal Hosein, Andre Russell, and Romario Shepherd.

Despite facing the ball in the powerplay for only the second time in his T20I career, Rutherford bided his time before unleashing an array of boundary shots, including three consecutive sixes off Daryl Mitchell in the penultimate over. His fifty off just 33 balls highlighted his calmness under pressure.

Finn Allen provided an early boost for New Zealand in their chase, displaying aggressive stroke play despite the early loss of Devon Conway. His positive start hinted at a competitive pursuit of West Indies’ total, bolstered by boundaries off Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie.

However, the introduction of Alzarri Joseph and the spin duo of Motie and Akeal Hosein stifled New Zealand’s progress, causing a steady collapse as they lost wickets at critical junctures.

Motie, in particular, played a pivotal role with the ball, claiming crucial wickets including that of Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell to derail New Zealand’s chase. His ability to turn the ball sharply troubled the Kiwi batsmen, while Joseph’s pace and accuracy further compounded their woes.

As New Zealand’s required run rate escalated, they faltered under pressure, succumbing to Joseph’s four-wicket haul and falling short of their target.

Overall, West Indies’ victory was a tale of Rutherford’s remarkable rescue effort with the bat and the team’s disciplined bowling performance that strangled New Zealand’s ambitions. The result not only secured their passage to the Super Eight stage but also underscored their resilience and potential in the T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

WI vs NZ Scoreboard

West Indies – 149/9 (20.0)

New Zealand – 136/9 (20.0)

Result – West Indies won by 13 runs

Player of the match – Sherfane Rutherford

Sherfane Rutherford

West Indies vs New Zealand Playing XIs